Jay sweeps 1st week

The weather changed dramatically from Tuesday to Thursday. But the Patriots' play remained consistent.

Playing in 40-degree temperatures as opposed to the high-70s just two days earlier, the Jay County High School girls tennis team knocked off the visiting Bellmont Squaws 4-1.

"This was a big win for us," said JCHS coach Roy Adams, noting the victory also marks the first time in his five seasons that the Patriots have opened 2-0. "Certainly Bellmont has traditionally had a strong team. ... For us to come out and beat them 4-1, I feel like that shows ... we're on the right track."

The Patriots lost 4-1 last season to Bellmont, which won the 2009 Norwell sectional title, and had not beaten the Squaws since 2003. They will take on a pair of North Central Conference foes on the road next week, playing Richmond Monday and then eight-time defending sectional champion Marion Tuesday.

"It's a confidence builder," said Adams, whose team has hopes of ending Marion's streak this year, of the win over the Squaws. "Every girl is excited here to win (this match). Every time you win it gives you a little more confidence for the next one."

The Patriots, who lost 4-1 to Bellmont last season, got another night of strong performances at the No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles positions.

Becky Muhlenkamp and Emily Huntsman battled through a tough first set against Brittany Sanders and Madeline Albert, but managed to keep a one-game advantage most of the way. They trailed 30-15 in the 10th game with Bellmont serving to try to pull the score even, but then took three consecutive points with the set-winner coming on a double fault.

After dropping the first game of the second set the Jay County duo took control, winning four straight games and later finishing off their 6-4, 6-2 victory by breaking the Squaws' serve again.

"They are understanding what they need to do," said Adams. "I thought they played a better match today than they did (Tuesday in their 6-1, 6-1 win over Blackford).

"Becky was having a little bit of problems with her serve ... but once she got that (taken care of) ... I think they just took over. ... I'm seeing the aggressiveness I want to."

At No. 3 singles, Alyssa Rigby rolled through her first two games and then survived several game points in the third to earn a second service break for a 3-0 lead. She extended her lead to 5-1 and then broke Alysha Helmrich's serve again to take the set.

After falling behind 3-2 in the second set, Rigby got back on track again and won four consecutive games to finish off a 6-1, 6-3 victory.

"Alyssa's got the 'I'm not going to lose this match' kind of mentality," Adams said. "And she just needed to move her feet a little bit more, because she came out in the first match and did well and then just ... got a little bit slow. She got down a couple of games there ... and after that she moved a lot better."

The clinching win for Jay County came at No. 2 singles from Kayla Martin, who was the lone Patriot to drop her match Tuesday against Blackford.

She jumped out to a 2-1 lead against Bellmont's Maddi Werling, fell behind 3-2 and then won three games in a row to capture the first set. After trailing 2-1 in the second set, she won five of the next seven games, ending the match 6-3, 6-4 with a drop shot that died before Werling could track it down.

"She wasn't playing like Kayla can play (Tuesday)," said Adams. "Today she was moving the ball well. She was stroking the ball well."

For the second time in as many matches the No. 2 doubles duo of Ashley Caupp and Danielle Chenoweth went to a third set, but this time they were able to come out on top.

The Patriot pair seemed primed to cruise early as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first set. But, Caupp and Chenoweth were unable to close it out as Abby Stimpson and Brianna Henkenius rallied back to win five straight games to steal the set.

Jay County, which also dropped the first set Tuesday and eventually lost to Blackford in a third-set tiebreaker, roared back to take the second 6-2 to force the third set.

After dropping the first game of set three, they came back to take a 4-3 lead and then won the eighth game with a Caupp overhead volley down the middle followed by a Chenoweth drop shot. Chenoweth then served out the match at love for the 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.

"I feel good about them," Adams said. "Overall, they got better and better.

"There's no doubt we had the ability to win that match (Tuesday) ... It was a much, much better finish."

The only loss of the evening came at No. 1 singles, where Mariah Clark got a game early against Allison Gutierrez before dropping the first set 6-1. She jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the second, but was unable to sustain the momentum in a 6-1, 6-3 defeat.

"Even though Mariah didn't win, I still thought she played pretty well," said Adams. "It was a positive."

Junior varsity

Jay County improve to 2-0 with wins at the top three singles positions and the top two doubles spots to beat the Squaws 5-3.

Rachel Ray had the most impressive win of the evening, blanking Rachel Baumgartner 4-0, 4-0 at No. 2 singles. In the No. 3 singles match Cindy Hein beat Shelby Kiess 4-0, 4-1, and at the No. 1 spot Joni Degler scored a 5-4 (7-2), 5-3 win over Katelyn Roe.

Alicia Degler and Dezi Clay beat Taya Adams and Andrea Chronister 4-2, 4-2 in the No. 2 doubles match. Chelsea Kimmel and Jessica Ooten won a hard-fought match at No. 1 doubles 5-4 (7-5), 4-5 (5-7), 10-3 over Hannah Endorf and Emily Koeneman.[[In-content Ad]]